Cost of living comparison
Palo Alto is 37.1% more expensive than United States overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 22.1% more in Palo Alto
- Groceries
-
pay 32.9% more in Palo Alto
- Transportation
-
pay 18.1% more in Palo Alto
- Housing
-
pay 65.8% more in Palo Alto
- Childcare
-
pay 84.8% more in Palo Alto
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 41.9% more in Palo Alto
- Clothing
-
pay 5.7% less in Palo Alto
The cost of childcare, housing, entertainment and sports, groceries, restaurants, and transportation in Palo Alto are more expensive than in United States. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Palo Alto.
If you lived in Palo Alto instead of United States, you would:
pay 22.1% more for restaurants
|
United States
|
Palo Alto
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.59
|
$27.50
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.47
|
$11.50
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.50
|
$3.00
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.96
|
$2.17
|
|
pay 32.9% more for groceries
|
United States
|
Palo Alto
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.49
|
$5.22
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.33
|
$8.45
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.91
|
$5.33
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.56
|
$5.50
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.16
|
$7.75
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.33
|
$3.30
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.78
|
$0.90
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.00
|
$1.60
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.16
|
$3.00
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.34
|
$1.89
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.38
|
$1.66
|
|
pay 18.1% more for transportation
|
United States
|
Palo Alto
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.61
|
$4.85
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$65.15
|
$90.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,583.67
|
$30,530.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.81
|
$18.41
|
|
pay 65.8% more for housing
|
United States
|
Palo Alto
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$67.50
|
$60.00
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,655.99
|
$3,397.50
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,423.40
|
$3,198.33
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$148.34
|
$213.87
|
|
pay 84.8% more for childcare
|
United States
|
Palo Alto
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,351.84
|
$2,705.00
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$22,265.44
|
$37,770.00
|
|
pay 41.9% more for entertainment and sports
|
United States
|
Palo Alto
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.78
|
$8.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.04
|
$5.10
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.68
|
$11.00
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$50.84
|
$120.00
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.30
|
$15.99
|
|
pay 5.7% less for clothing
|
United States
|
Palo Alto
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.38
|
$45.00
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.66
|
$36.12
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$85.52
|
$80.00
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$111.08
|
$117.22
|
|
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